Three Seychellois post graduates are being awarded scholarships to pursue higher degrees in the UK, the British High Commission (BHC) in Victoria announced this week. The scholarships are being awarded under the Chevening programme, through which the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) finances foreign students to study at a post graduate level in a British university.

In previous years Seychellois hopefuls have competed for two awards, but this year a third was on offer, with the addition of the Robert Burns Chevening Scholarship.

The Robert Burns scholarship has been created using funds from the BHC organised Burns night celebrations, held to mark the anniversary of the birth of the famous Scottish poet.

The Robert Burns Chevening Scholarship has been awarded to Mrs Sarah Romain, who will study Nutritional Health.

The two other awards have been made to Mr Cliff Gonzalves, currently employed by SWAC, who will study Environmental Engineering, and Mr Pascal Marie of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment's Social Development Division, who will study Social Development Planning.

A press release from the High Commission said that the aim of the Chevening Scholarships in Seychelles is, "to enable Seychellois students to pursue postgraduate degrees in the UK, studying subjects that will benefit the country."

Worth several thousands pounds, the Chevening Scholarships cover the cost of tuition fees and a return air ticket for the students, as well as providing a stipend to meet their living expenses.

Mrs Romain, Mr Gonzalves and Mr Marie will be presented with their awards in the first week of September at the British High Commission, before leaving for the UK in time for the start of the 2003 academic year.

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